Grand Island, Metropolitian are for 2010? (Omaha, Lincoln: employment, university, estimate)

[Raphael07]

According to wikipedia,
Grand Island, Nebraska - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The population estimate for Grand Island is 49,802, which is 198 people away from being considered a metropolitan area, so if the estimate is correct and Grand Island passes that number, Nebraska will have its 3rd (or 4th if you count Sioux City) Metropolitan area!

The growth according to the estimate is shocking though, from 42,940 to 49,802 is a growth of 16 percent.

edit: oh, just realized I put are instead of area, moderator fix?

[John08]

Nebraska is one of the faster growing States in the country. Which makes sense, we have the second lowest unemployment rate in the country. Infact Omaha was labelled by Forbes as the countries fastest recovering city.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by John08

Nebraska is one of the faster growing States in the country. Which makes sense, we have the second lowest unemployment rate in the country. Infact Omaha was labelled by Forbes as the countries fastest recovering city.

Omaha is one of the fastest growing cities in the Midwest/Plains
Lincoln also has solid growth.
The Tri-Cities have some growth
The rural areas are rapidly declining.
The percentage growth for NE since 2000 is about 4.2%, a growth rate about half as much as the national average.

[John08]

So your right. Well, Nebraska should be one of the fastest growing areas since it has the second lowest employment in the country.

[Raphael07]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

Omaha is one of the fastest growing cities in the Midwest/Plains
Lincoln also has solid growth.
The Tri-Cities have some growth

Actually the tri cities, over the past decade, have grown a lot, especially Kearney and Grand Island. Hasting's downtown is also thriving.

Hastings has gone from 24,064 in 2000 to 25,394 in 2008 which is adding 5.5 percent

Kearney has gone from 27,431 in 2000 to 30,417 in 2008 which is adding 10.9 percent.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Go Ne

Actually the tri cities, over the past decade, have grown a lot, especially Kearney and Grand Island. Hasting's downtown is also thriving.

Hastings has gone from 24,064 in 2000 to 25,394 in 2008 which is adding 5.5 percent

Kearney has gone from 27,431 in 2000 to 30,417 in 2008 which is adding 10.9 percent.

Thanks for the numbers. I think Kearney has a lot to offer for its size.

[Raphael07]

Yeah the university helps and really creates a white collar atmosphere.

[dsrich98]

Originally Posted by Go Ne

Yeah the university helps and really creates a white collar atmosphere.

Doing some personal research I discovered that Kearney actually has the highest percentage of adults with Bachelors degrees of any city in Nebraska. I was a little surprised but then I guess it makes sense. Since it's a magnet for those that went away to college got an education but want to stay closer to a rural lifestyle.